It's that time of year again! The holiday season is in full swing, and everyone has their favorite recipes for baking for friends, family, parties - the list goes on. One thing that people often worry about (especially this time of year) is whether or not their baking will be healthy.

This blog post discusses healthier alternatives to traditional holiday sweets and how Purecane can be used in these recipes with great success.

But before you know which recipes to use this holiday season, you may want to know what to remove and add to your recipes.

Here are some healthy holiday baking ideas:

1. Use Whole Wheat Flour
One healthy holiday baking idea is to use whole wheat flour in recipes. Whole wheat flour offers a rich, nutty flavor, and it provides a healthy dose of dietary fiber. It's an excellent choice for making your favorite holiday treats, including gingerbread men, sugar cookies, and chocolate brownies. You can also substitute half of the white flour with whole wheat in your favorite recipes.

2. Swap Butter for Applesauce
The holidays are typically envisioned as a time to indulge in good, rich food. However, you don't have to give up your taste while sticking to healthier options this year. Swapping butter with unsweetened applesauce can provide a creamy, delicious texture without the added fat and calories.

3. Use Greek Yogurt Instead of Sour Cream
Another way to make some healthy holiday sweets is to use greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Greek yogurt offers all of the protein of sour cream with less saturated fat. It adds thickness to dips and baked goods for a healthier twist on favorite holiday recipes. You can also use it as a savory marinade for turkey.

4. Choose Dark Chocolate Over White
Dark chocolate offers a rich, intense flavor that can help satisfy your cravings for sweets without all of the sugar and fat in traditional chocolates. Plus, it's high in antioxidants, so you can feel good about indulging.

The chocolate also contains less fat than milk chocolate, making it a healthier option in moderation. Be sure to switch out traditional chocolate chips in brownies and cookies for dark chocolate flavors.

5. Pick Pumpkin Puree in Recipes
Pumpkin puree is a tasty, nutritious alternative to traditional holiday fare. It's a good source of vitamin A and potassium, and it provides a satisfying taste that can help curb your cravings for decadent desserts.

You can use this puree in recipes like pies, muffins, or baked goods as a healthier alternative than flavors like chocolate.

6. Use Juice Instead of Sugar
Are you looking for another tip to make some healthy holiday sweets? Swap out the sugar in your recipes for 100 percent natural fruit juice. Not only will you lower the calorie count, but you'll boost flavor and nutrition with minimal effort. For extra sweetness, try adding a little bit of honey to the recipe instead of using granulated sugar.

7. Skip Store-Bought Mixes
Many store-bought mixes contain a lot of added sugar and fat. Plus, they often don't taste as good as homemade treats. Save on calories without skipping out on great taste by making holiday recipes from scratch at home with wholesome ingredients that you know and trust. It's not only healthy but also cheaper.

8. Incorporate Fruits
Fruits are a nutritious, low-calorie way to sweeten your holiday desserts. You can puree canned pears or peaches for baked goods like carrot cake. Dried cranberries are another healthy option that provides a tart sweetness.Try adding chopped apples to your favorite muffin batter or fresh applesauce to snickerdoodle cookies.

9. Add Cinnamon
Cinnamon is traditionally associated with the holidays because of its warm, spicy flavor. It also provides a range of health benefits. Try adding a little bit to your favorite holiday treats for an extra burst of flavor.

10. Cut the Fat, Keep the Flavor
As a holiday host, you want to please your guests, which means avoiding or reducing fatty treats that might cause them to reach for a napkin! But of course, you don't want to sacrifice taste.

Here are some fat-reducing ideas:

• Replace some of the butter with Greek yogurt.
• Use half of the full-fat cheese or eliminate it altogether.
• Add an extra egg white to cakes and cookies before baking for a lighter texture.
• Reduce the amount of oil and butter in your favorite cake or brownie recipe.
• Serving healthy holiday sweets that everyone can enjoy means you'll have more time to spend with friends and family instead of stressing over how to keep your holiday dinner from being a diet disaster.

11. Use Purecane Brown Sweetener Instead of Brown Sugar
Purecane Brown Sweetener is an unrefined, all-natural sweetener that contains less fructose than traditional sugar. It provides the flavor of brown sugar with extra antioxidants and nutrients.

Purecane is an all-natural, zero-calorie sugar substitute that is ideal for holiday recipes that call for regular sugar. It is the perfect step towards healthy holiday baking this season!

12. Use Fruit Juice Instead of Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is commonly used as a thickening agent in many holiday baking recipes, ranging from frostings to cookies. Luckily, many alternatives will provide the same texture without the empty calories and potential health risks associated with corn syrup. You can easily swap out corn syrup with fruit juice in some of your favorite recipes for a healthier holiday treat.

For instance, peach puree or orange juice works great in cake recipes, while pear puree can be used in cookie batter. With these simple substitutions, your goodies will be just as tasty and satisfying as ever. Don't be afraid to indulge in a little holiday treat! Just make sure you don't overdo it with the portions, especially if you're watching your weight or limiting your sugar intake. Remember, too much of anything isn't good for you.

When in doubt, check the nutrition label and keep portion sizes moderate. You can also find more great holiday recipes and ideas here.

Healthy Holiday Sweets for Your Next Holiday

Now that you know which ingredients to use for healthy holiday baking ideas, you may want to know some of the healthy desserts to bake this holiday:

1. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Snickerdoodles are a great cookie to bake for friends and family. They are a classic holiday cookie that everyone loves! The dough is easy to make, which makes baking these cookies super simple.

Before you start mixing up your ingredients, try adding some Purecane Baking Sweetener instead of sugar or regular white table sugar (which contains cane sugar).

2. Flourless Chickpea Blondies with Dark Chocolate Chips

Blondies are a fantastic treat to bake for parties and events. Your friends and family will love these delicious bars.

They're super sweet and they contain chocolate chips, which is always a crowd-pleaser.

These blondies use chickpeas as their base instead of flour, which makes them gluten-free and healthy (not to mention delicious).

Chickpeas give these blondies an added protein boost making it the perfect afternoon snack or dessert.

3. Sweet Potato Pie

This pie is a fantastic twist on the classic pecan pie that has become so popular in America during this time of year.

The sweet potato adds an extra boost of vitamins and nutrients to your traditional holiday pies, which makes these desserts healthy for you!

Purecane can be used as a natural sweetener in the filling for this pie.

4. Pumpkin Pie with Purecane Sweetened Whipped Cream

This is a festive twist on your traditional pumpkin pie! Use any of your favorite recipes for pumpkin pie- but swap out the sugar for Purecane sweetener! It is the same great flavor you know and love but MUCH better for you!

The creamy pure cane whipped cream topping is the perfect finishing touch to this delicious dessert.

5. Vegan Coconut Matcha Ice Cream Cakes

These vegan ice cream cakes are to die for! They're light, refreshing, and the perfect way to end a holiday meal. These little cakes are easy enough that you can make them on your own or with friends/family members - everyone will love helping out in this fun activity!

Be sure to add some Purecane sweetener to your batter when baking these tasty Vegan Coconut Matcha Ice Cream Cakes.

6. Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse Cups

Chocolate Mousse is a classic holiday dessert, but did you know that dairy can often hinder your digestive system? That's why these Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse Cups are the perfect alternative. Plus, they taste better than traditional chocolate mousse cups!

Use Purecane sweetener when baking to give these tasty desserts their sweetness while also ensuring that they are dairy-free and good for the digestive system!

7. Chocolate Dipped Bananas

Everyone loves chocolate - it's one of those universal things that everyone can agree on. These little bites are great for parties, gatherings or even as a stocking stuffer!

They're quick and simple to make (as most healthy snacks/sweets are). So they won't take up too much time in the kitchen.

8. Jelly Thumbprint Cookie

This is another classic holiday treat that you and your family will enjoy! The jelly and cookie marry together into a wonderful combination. You can even try adding Purecane to the recipe for an additional festive taste!

9. Peanut Butter Balls

These peanut butter balls are no-bake, which makes them quick and simple to make with your kids or grandkids. They're great for parties, gatherings or even as a stocking stuffer! As always, swap out the sugar for Purecane sweetener for a healthier spin on the same great dessert!

10. No Sugar Added Cranberry Sauce

This is a perfect addition to any holiday meal. Cranberry sauce has been served as a side dish with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for years, but did you know that cranberries have some serious health benefits?

Try using Purecane sweetener when making this healthy no sugar added cranberry sauce recipe! It's the perfect way to add some sweetness to your side dish without compromising on health!

11. Gingerbread Cookies with Purecane Sweetened Royal Icing

These gingerbread cookies are the perfect treat for Christmas Eve or even as a stocking stuffer. They're super festive and will be adored by everyone at your holiday party.

12. Homemade Cornbread Muffins

These cornbread muffins are the perfect addition to any holiday dinner! They're moist and flavorful, which means that everyone will love them.

The best part is: they're healthy for you because there's no oil or butter in this recipe and use Purecane instead of sugar for an even healthier treat! This way you can enjoy your favorite holiday foods without compromising your health.

13. Vegan Gingersnaps

Vegan Gingersnaps are soft and chewy. They're a wonderful alternative to traditional gingersnaps that contain eggs and butter, which makes them healthier for consumption during the holiday season.

You may use some moderate amount of Purecane sugar when baking these vegan gingersnap cookies.

14. Coconut Snowballs

These coconut snowballs are a great holiday treat to bake up with your kids! They're super sweet and they make for an excellent decoration on top of cupcakes or cakes.

The sprinkles add some festive cheer while the Purecane makes them taste delicious.

15. Matcha Almond Fudge

These fudges are a great treat to give as gifts and serve at holiday parties. They're also super simple to make, so you can whip up some batches for yourself or friends/family members!

The matcha powder makes these treats taste delicious while the Purecane ensures that they're the perfect sweetness.

16. Salted Almond Butter Pecan Bars

These salted almond butter pecan bars are a holiday gift your friends and family will absolutely adore! You can make them ahead of time and store them in the freezer. This healthy treat is perfect for any party, potluck or get-together you might be having this winter season.

As you can see, Purecane should be a staple in your kitchen during the holiday season. Healthy alternatives to traditional desserts and snacks make it easier than ever to enjoy those festive treats without feeling guilty about them later on (or even worse - having stomach pain).